"A heat pump is going to operate more efficiently than any other type of heating system today, and a pool heat pump will heat a pool more economically than any other type of system that you can put in. Of course, just a water source heating pump is all you need. It will be at least 25 percent more economical than an air source heat pump," Peterson says.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy), if you are looking to save money but you want to heat your pool, use a heat pump pool heater. Heat pumps work off of electricity to grab heat. They then move that heat from one area of the pool to the other.
As the pool pump makes the water flow, the water in the pool moves from the filter to the heat pump heater. The pump has a fan that gathers air from the outside and then moves it over the evaporator coil. A liquid refrigerant within the evaporator coil absorbs the heat from the outside air and becomes a gas. The warm gas in the coil then passes through the compressor. The compressor raises the heat, and a very hot gas is formed. This goes through the condenser. The condenser exchanges the heat from the hot gas to the cooler pool water moving through the heater. The heated water is filtered out into the pool. The process is repeated over and over.
The cooler the outside air, the more energy is used. Since most people use outdoor swimming pools during warm and mild weather, this usually isn't a big problem. Heat pump pool heaters work great, as long as the outside temperature stays above the 45ºF-50ºF range.
Gas pool heaters cost significantly more than heat pump pool heaters. However, they have much lower annual operating costs because of their higher efficiencies. With proper maintenance, heat pump pool heaters will last longer than gas pool heaters. Therefore, you'll save more money in the long run.
When looking to buy a heat pump pool heater you need to take these factors into consideration: size, efficiency, and cost. Peterson says that everyone should make sure their heat pump is properly installed by a professional.
